14:42 York

Wednesday 14 May 2025

All14:1014:4215:1315:4516:1816:5517:25

Churchill Tyres Handicap

Off time: 14:43 | Winning time: 1m 10.86s

(7)

Korker³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Jack Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 103| C

14/1

Boasts plenty of solid form here, including at this meeting in recent years, and one of his best efforts of a winless 2024 campaign was when second in C&D listed race at the Ebor meeting. Little impact in 2 runs on AW this year, including at Newcastle on Sunday, but better expected now back on turf.

Form: 3359-90

(4)

Commanche Falls^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 102| CD

17/2

Elevated to a genuine pattern-class performer in 2023, winning listed events in Ireland and over this C&D, either side of a Newbury Group 3. Failed to scale those heights last year but was a good third off 5 lb higher in a major handicap at the Ebor meeting. Should come on for recent Leicester run.

Form: 34658-7

(12)

Holkham Bay¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: W J Knight| OR: 98| CD

7/1

Wrapped up good 2024 campaign with a second success at Ascot in October. Well held at the Ebor meeting here last summer but 2 previous visits to the Knavesmire resulted in a near-miss before going one better in a 20-runner handicap (both over C&D). Unlucky at Goodwood recently and he's a key player.

Form: 1071-85

(6)

We Never Stop^p²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 98| D

15/2

More good efforts than bad ones since the cheekpieces went on, striking with the headgear applied for the first time at Redcar (5f, good to firm) last summer and since won 3 times on the AW, taking 6f handicaps at Southwell and Newcastle the last twice. This is tougher but he's clearly in good nick.

Form: 226711

(10)

Ramazan¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: O McSweeney⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| D

33/1

Smart performer at his best and, though winless last term, he was runner-up twice in big handicaps, latterly going close in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon (6f, good to firm) in August. However, efforts so far this season leave much to be desired and Prince of Pillo is presumably the stable No 1.

Form: 2030-60

(11)

Glenfinnan⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: M Dods| OR: 94| D

12/1

Bagged second win of 2024 at Sandown (7f, good) in August but struggled both subsequent starts of that campaign, serving as reminders that he's not the most consistent. Conversely, there were positives to glean from his Doncaster return (badly hampered at a crucial stage) and he's on a good mark.

Form: 60100-0

(14)

Secret Guest¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 90| D

28/1

Failed to land a blow back from a break at Newcastle but showed the benefit of that run when scoring under a more positive ride at Thirsk (6f, good) recently. On the downside, he's yet to win off a mark this high and has struggled in C&D handicaps on both previous visits to York.

Form: 032-681

(1)

Prince Of Pillo¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| D

18/1

Pattern-class at 2 yrs (winner of listed race and twice made the frame in Group company) and while it would appear that things haven't gone entirely to plan since, he has scored twice on the AW in recent months, including at Southwell (6f) last time. Still, more will be needed back on turf.

Form: 8-19561

(9)

Brave Empire³⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: I Furtado| OR: 90| DWS

66/1

Winner of 2 of his 3 starts as a 2-y-o and bagged a Class 2 Lingfield handicap (6f, AW) on second run of what turned out to be a truncated 2024 campaign (absent since finishing nearer last than first on final run for Roger Varian last July). Gelded/undergone a wind op ahead of this yard debut.

Form: 1/91600-

(15)

Two Tribes^b¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: R Spencer| OR: 90

5/1

Likeable sort who failed to win in 2024 but typically gave his running, not least when fourth in a major C&D handicap in August (didn't enjoy best of runs and finished hot on the heels of third-placed Commanche Falls). Went close on return at Newmarket and bold show likely with Ryan Moore booked.

Form: 45476-3

(5)

Bergerac^b¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 88| CD

11/1

Dual C&D winner in the past and performed with credit all 3 visits here in 2024. Back down to the mark off which he gained his latest success at Newcastle last June following a couple of low-key runs on the AW since returning from a break and he's certainly capable of a bold show.

Form: 6635-78

(16)

Change Sings³³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 88| D

10/1

Won twice from 4 starts last year and has resumed in good form this spring, placed in 6f handicaps at Kempton and Newbury (good). Remains 4 lb above last winning mark and this would be the most competitive race he has contested so far, but he merits respect all the same.

Form: 6118-32

(3)

Dark Thirty²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 88| C| D

7/1

Positive start last season, winning a 6f Newmarket handicap before finishing a good third in another over 7f at the same course. Successful on his reappearance this time round, too, but subsequently finished nearer last than first back at Newmarket and his record is a little too patchy for comfort.

Form: 0006-10

(2)

First Folio^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 87| CD

10/1

Ended lengthy losing run at Yarmouth in September but remains 1 lb above that winning mark, despite finishing nearer last than first in handicaps at Newmarket and Doncaster since returning to action last month.

Form: 3416-09

(8)

Mister Sox^p⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Tom Kiely-Marshall⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 79| D

9/1

Largely consistent last term and has kicked on again this year, completing the hat-trick in a 10-runner Ripon handicap (6f, good to firm) 5 days ago. On the downside, his mark has inevitably suffered as a consequence of that winning spree and this is tougher than the races he usually contests.

Form: 544-111

(13)

Rousing Encore¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 82| D

22/1

Largely creditable efforts upon joining this yard last year and deservedly got his head in front at Ayr (6f, good) in October. By no means disgraced in decent handicaps at Newbury and Leicester this time round and he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 1335-56

Forecasts

Two Tribes (5/1), Dark Thirty (7/1), Holkham Bay (7/1), We Never Stop (15/2), Commanche Falls (17/2), Mister Sox (9/1), Change Sings (10/1), First Folio (10/1), Bergerac (11/1), Glenfinnan (12/1), Korker (14/1), Prince Of Pillo (18/1), Rousing Encore (22/1), Secret Guest (28/1), Ramazan (33/1), Brave Empire (66/1)

Likeable types HOLKHAM BAY and Two Tribes are taken to come to the fore in a typically competitive renewal of this handicap. The latter is very appealing on the back of his solid reappearance effort and with Ryan Moore booked but Holkham Bay caught the eye at Goodwood recently and he gets the nod. Kevin Ryan has saddled the last two winners of this and his representatives Bergerac and We Never Stop both have claims, while Change Signs is also shortlisted, along with Glenfinnan.